Waterspouts

A waterspout looks like a tornado over water. It is a tall, twisting column of air and water droplets. Waterspouts form over lakes and oceans when warm air meets cold air. They can be exciting to watch from far away but dangerous for boats.

How Waterspouts Form

Most waterspouts form on warm, sunny days over calm water. Warm, wet air rises up into cooler air above. The air starts to spin and reaches down from the clouds. When it touches the water, it sucks up water droplets and forms a spinning tube. Most waterspouts last only a few minutes before they fade away.

Two Kinds of Waterspouts

There are two main types of waterspouts. Fair-weather waterspouts happen in calm weather and are usually weak. Tornadic waterspouts are tornadoes that form over water and are much stronger. Fair-weather waterspouts are the most common type. They can move onto land and become weak tornadoes.

Fun Facts

• A waterspout does not actually suck up water like a straw, it just makes a cloud of mist.
• Florida has more waterspouts than anywhere else in the United States.
• Some waterspouts can be over 300 feet tall.

Did You Know?

Long ago, sailors thought waterspouts were sea monsters. They would fire cannons at them to try to break them apart.